The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1887-11-26

dispatch of the Goth from Bridge
port, Conn. says: The building of Bar
mum d Bailey's greatest show on
earth was entirely destroyed by fire
TINS evening. Thousands of people
were draWn to the spot by the alarm
pens. n less than thirty minutes the
puialng, which was 6C0x2OO
Ieet and two stories in height,
wa: entirely consumed. The first
intlmatlGn of the fire vas given bv
the rcdring of the lions and tiers which
seemed to realize the impending danger.
HeSt the elephants struggled in their
t51alds' = n bot In an incredibly short time
aale ilames spread from one end of the
huge structure to the other. There
were SIX Watchmen employed on the
premises, bat they were helpless to
check The flames. One of the men
Was II the horse-building when
ms ialtern exploded igniting the hay
-dh'. straw Five of the watchmen have
reported. but one ls missing. The upper
portion of the building was filed with
hay and all the paraphernalia of the
great show. Before the fire alarm ceased
sounding, the whole building was en-
vei3ped in fire and no one dared to an
proach, being fearful Of the craged anis
mais.
Three elephants were burned up and
th1Fiv-si& broke from their fasteninps
and dashed through the sides of the
burning building. Their roars and
trumpetings and sounds of torment were
terrific. Six elephants and large hip
9opotamus rushed about the streets,
lppcs 9psse'"!IE !rSoir s;ds sickening appear,
ANA great pieces OF flesh, q foot
square, fell Off Thirty elephants ard
one large hon made their escape and
have started across the country toward
falrheid and EastOn. Great alarm has
seized great many residents OF the
West End and they have taken refuge
Within their houses, with windows
barred.
William Newman, the elephant
trainer, IS out Of town, and the keepers
were not able in the excitement to herd
the frightened animals. In the horse
room were all the rlng animals, trained
stations, ponies, etc, These were all
burned. In the upper rooms were the
tents poles, seats. harness, etc. FIR the
entire show, and these too were all de
stfoVed, in the cat room were the
olrds, monkeys, three rhinoceroses. hv-
ehaS, tigers, llons and all the menagerie.
sa'ct iell 2 prey to the flames. So rapid
niu the names leap across the main
building That the firemen made no at
Re uipt 10 save it, but turned their efforts
elpoh the chariot buildings and car sheds,
"'ilch they succeeded in saving, but the
Ieat was SO intense that this was accom-
pushed with the greatest difficulty. The
total loss is estimated at 800, 600, upon
which there was but 800, 600 insurance.
Before the building went down Bsrnum's
agents were busy making ARRANGEMENTS
Tor new lot of attractions to supply the
loss; Mr.. Brothweli, Mr. Barnum's s
bridgeport agent, stated that the show
building would be rebuilt, but not in
bridgeport. The great show will
probably 90 to Jersey City, where bet
Ter railroad facilities can be had.
a later dispatch says the watchman
making his rounds discovered the fire and
started TO give the alarm, when SC me un-
known person hit him on the head with
blunt instrument telling him to the
ground and cutting q number of severe
gashes IN bis head. He staggered to his
feet and gave the alarm enabling the 9TH
er watchmen in the building, who were
preparing for bed, to escape. One of
the three elephants burned was the
sacred white elephant. The lion which
the police attempted to kill at the time
che fire broke out was atterward found
an barn devouring COW which he had
killed. He was shot The fire is now
out.